Jettison tank



JETTISON TANK Filed May 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n 5 4 a 78 6Ml w H d 6n n u W, MM 6 0O p Q 7 W .E M O D J. m2 m d 2 m H E N a hm m m6 5 9 m 6m 6 7 2 55 2 nfl zm 7 6 7 vn v 7 1% w v I 4 "v I I Sept. 16, 1947. N. J.DE SANDERS, JR

JETTISOH-TANK Filed May 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 16,l947 ZAZZSSZ? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act ofMarch 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 9 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes Without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

The invention relates to improvements in auxiliary tanks and themounting thereof for discarding, as is practised with fuel tanks onmotorized artillery and particularly such as are technically known astanks where extra fuel tanks are carried to supplement the supplycarried in the regular tanks of the vehicle, and are discarded whenemptied or before, when in battle.

It is necessary, in such equipment, to safeguard personnel in thevehicle from injury by fire in case the auxiliary is disrupted, and aninstantaneous response of discharging means must occur when the tankcaptain or other of the crew operate the necessary release or dischargedev1ce.

Also, in case it is found necessary to jettison a tank containing fuel,as may occur when the auxiliary is apt to interfere with traverse of themain armament piece, or as a precaution on entering an encounter, it isdesirable to avoid waste of the fuel, because the tank may be recoveredand also avoid undesired incendiary effects.

Therefore salient objects of the invention are to satisfy the abovementioned requirements and needs.

Incident to these objects it is sought to present a novel and efiectivefuel duct coupling which will be automatically uncoupled when the tankis jettisoned, and to coordinate therewith a closure for the tankwhereby fuel Will be retained therein.

A most urgent object is to insure the prompt removal of the auxiliarytank when desired without possibility of fouling of the fastenings orfuel connection; and to eifect this by a novel, inexpensive, and ruggedmeans, liable in a minimum degree to impairment by wear, weather orsevere usage.

It is also an attainment of the invention that the procedure andmanipulations involved in the emplacement, and securing of the auxiliaryready for effective release, are extremely simple and can be carried outby relatively unskilled personnel with small chance for mistakes.

Among other objects are these: to insure prompt initiation of movementof the auxiliary from place by mere release of an anchor device; toenable push button control of the discharge of the tank; to minimizedelay in action of an anchor releasing device; to safeguard flexiblefuel conduit from strain; to enable use of my invention without materialchange in equipment already in use.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in theconstruction arrangement and combination of parts involved in theembodinent of the invention, as will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of the rear part of a tank equipped with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a schematic section showing: sponsons of a tank formally insection, the regular fuel tanks and two jettison tanks and mountingsembodying my invention, together with fuel connections therefrom;

Figure 3 is a detail end elevation of one of my auxiliary tanks andmounting, with part of the mounting removed to disclose th dischargespring and fuel connection;

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of a fuel coupling;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the fuel coupling;

Figure 6 is a detail cross section of the jettison tank and itsmounting;

Figure 7 is a detail of one of the anchor release devices;

Figure 8 is a diagram of the electrical control circuits.

There is illustrated a portion of a motorized vehicle i0, and in thisinstance corresponding to what is known as a tank, a heavily armoredvehicle carrying a large caliber gun mounted in a rotating turret bywhich traverse of the gun is effected through 360 degrees. This vehicleusually has a rear sloping deck behind the turret, and at each side ofthis rear deck fixed sponsons H, here shown formally, each lying over anendless track traction device (not shown) and affording a space for thefuel tanks I 2 permanently installed and conventionally connected to thecarbureters of the power plant, these connections and plant not beingshown.

The sponsons include a laterally sloping top armor deck part I3 and adepending thicker armor l 4 at the outer side.

On each of the sloping tops l3 of the sponsons auxiliary cylindricalfuel tanks. 15 are mounted and connected to the fuel system of thevehicle power plant, although they may be mounted elsewhere if desired,conveniently for dropping from the vehicle to the ground at need.

As the mounting of both tanks is identical, and also the immediate fuelconnections therewith, one only will be described. The support for thetank I5 includes the deck l3 and at least two saddles [6, which may betermed a base support. They may be fixed permanently to the deck bybolting or welding. These saddles are arranged in parallel relation atright angles to the side Id of the sponson, and suitably spacedlongitudinally of the vehicle and tank [5. They are shaped arcuatelyconcave on the upper side to fit the periphery of the tank [5, butcontrary to ordinary practice with barrel cradles, in the normal ortravel position of the tank IS, the outer side of the saddle does notextend to a level substantially :3 above that of the lowermost part ofthe recess. The recess il in the saddle terminates at the outer sideimmediately adjacent, if not inwardly of, the vertical diameter of thetank i5, and the addle is rounded therefrom, forming a terminal supportheel l8 which constitutes a fulcrum, on which the tank may pivot and istiltable, when unsecured, from position snugly in the saddles, and isextended vertically downward from the heel, the lower or foot part ofthe saddle continuing slopingly downward, and outward, forming a ramp itor foot on which the tank may roll. The saddles are preferably locatedwith said diameter a distance from the side i l of the sponson less thanone half the circumference of the tank [5. The inner termination of therecess ii is substantially higher than the heel i8, so that the rearpart of the saddle forms a back stop 223, or buttress, very positivelysupporting the tank it: against inward lateral movement. The angularextent of the recess l! with respect to the cylindrical axis of the tankis sufficient to afford a good bearing and support for the wall of thetank when pressed snugly into the saddles, 'at the same time that thenecessary buttress effect at the back is attained.

Each tank i is provided with a filling and vent fitting 2i of customaryconstruction, Along the rear side of the tank an L angle bar 22 has oneflange secured flat against the wall of the tank a distance above theback portion 28 of the saddle, its other flange extending rearwardlyfrom the tank.

Swivelled in this flange there are two or more turnbuckle links 23 theupper screw 2d of which may be permanently swivelled 0n the bar 22,while the lower screw rod 25 thereof is formed with an upwardly taperedwedge-shaped head or anchor 26 stopping short of the deck it asubstantial distance. Forming part of, or mounted on the inner ends ofthe saddles it, there are anchor grips 2? arranged and constructed togrip the anchor heads respectively.

Each of these grips consists in this instance of a stationary jaw 28 anda relatively movable jaw 29 pivoted thereto.

The two jaws are arranged so as to meet at a plane nearly or quitealined with the rod 25 when the head is between the jaws, and they arerecessed and notched as at 38 on their opposed faces to'flt the inclinedsurfaces of the head 26 and to receive the rod 25.

The head 26 is rectangular in cross section, having opposite Wedge facesconvergent upwardly, and the recesses 39 are correspondingly shaped, sothat sloping sides of respective recesses will fit the respectiveadjacent wedge faces of the head 26. The depth of the recessesvertically is greater than the corresponding dimension of the head 26,and the inner, sloping, upper sides of the recesses are planiform, andextend to a junction with each other above the anchor head. The jaws arealso notched longitudinally so that they mayflt around the rod 25 withtheir inclined faces meeting above the head 23.

The pivoted jaws 29 are both arranged to swing longitudinally of thetank in the same direction in separating from the stationary jaws andeach is formed with a reduced stem portion 3! extending downward closelyadjacent the stationary jaw and pivoted at its lower extremity in ahousing 32 secured to the adjacent saddle. Each pivoted jaw is also,formed with an outwardly extended shoulder 33 a distance from its pivot,on its side opposite the stationary jaw. This forms an over hang underwhich a prop. dog at. may engage to bear upwardly against the shoulderat its outer part and prevent pivotal outward movement of the jaw 29.The dog is pivoted and shaped so as to be movable out from under theshoulder 33 and to clear the pivoted jaw by a moderate extent ofmovement so that the latter may move clear of the head 25 and permit thelatter to draw upward between the opposed jaws. In the present instancethe dogs have arms 35 extended downwardly and connected for simultaneousmovement by a link system which may be manually, mechanically orelectrically operated as found expedient. In the instant case respectivelinks 36 are pivoted to the ends of the arms 35 and extended toward eachother as nearly alined as practicable, and connected to opposite ends ofa solenoid core 37 mounted slidably in responsive relation to a solenoidcoil 38 appropriately mounted between the saddles IS on a bed plate 39attached to the inner ends of the saddles. Attachment of the plate 39 tothe deck it serves al o to secure the saddles in place.

The solenoid coil may be connected in an open circuit ii with anysuitable electrical source available in the regular equipment of thevehicle and formally indicated as a battery ill in Fig. 8, wheresolenoid coils for the two jettison tanks are connected in multiple inthe circuit fill and the circuit is arranged to be closed by any one ofseveral conventional button switches Q2, which may be convenientlylocated in the turret and elsewhere on the vehicle. Other means may besubstituted for operating the anchor dogs, or maybe used in conjunctiontherewith as an emergency release.

Each of the saddles it has formed therein immediately inward of the heelportion 3a small lock recess 63, and secured to the xternal face of thetank l5 there is an angle bar M positioned with one flange flat againstthe tank surface and a dependent flange 555 projecting into the recesses53, dependent flange 35 cooperating with each heel portion It or fulcrumelement, at the inner side thereof formed by lock recess l3, to provideinterlocknig retaining members for the tank at normal mounted positionof the latter as will now be apparent. The outer sides of these recesseshave an overhang or inward extension it, and the flange 5 is inclinedoutwardly at such an angle as to engage under the over hang a distancebeyond a vertical line dropped from the extremity of the over hang.Thereby, upward movement of the tank i5 is prevented, as well astendencies thereof to rotate under pull of the anchor devices overcome.

It will be appreciated that when the anchor devices are released andtilting of the tank outward occurs, the initial pivotal movement of thetank on the heel portions it will cause the lower flange 5 to swingrearward in the recesses 3, divergent from the part lit, and then toswing upward out of the recess 43. The member Q5 and heel portion l8,with the part it thus constitute a separable fastener or lock (the partat th same time being a fulcrum and support) which is automaticallyseparated or unlocked by the tilting of the tank. To insure the functionindicated, therefore, the recesses extend inwardly and upward withsufficient clearance to permit these movements of the flange therein.

A drain fitting and separable fuel conduit ecupling 47 of novelconstruction coordinated with the function of the anchor device, saddlesand other features, is provided, as shown in detail in Figs 4 and 5. Thicomprises a base plate 48 secured tothe wall of the tank and havinganintegral externally threaded centrally recessed boss 49 on which thereis screwed a stud sleeve 50 consisting of a generally cylindricalaxially bored member the upper half of which is slightly enlarged. Itsupper end is rabbeted and threaded to receive the boss 49 and the boreis also enlarged there affording a conical seat M at the beginning ofthe bore enlargement, to accommodate a poppet valve 52 for movement toand from the seat i. The valve is held yieldingly :to its seat by acompression spring 53 seated in the recessed end of the boss 49.

The reduced part of the bore opens through the lower end of the sleeveand receives slidingly a drain tube 5 set axially in the bottom of a cupmember 55, which fits loosely around the stud part Ell forming the lowerreduced half of the sleeve. The cup is held yieldingly in engagedposition here by a plurality of spring pressed ball poppets 56 set inthe side of the stud 50' and engaging in a circumscribing channel 57 inthe wall of the cup, so that the latter may be pushed into place wherethe poppets will spring into the channel 51 and retain the cup in place,but yieldable to a pull of suihcient force on the cup to cause the outerside of the channel to press the poppets inward until they may slide onthe wall of the cup above the channel. An elastic compressible gasketring 58 is shown confined between the upper edge of the cup and theexternal conical shoulder 59 at the junction of the smaller and largerparts of the sleeve, the edge of the cup being bevelled to parallel theshoulder 59. When the cup is at normal engaged position with the poppetsengaging the channel 51, the tube 55 extends above the seat 5| at themiddle of the sleeve 50, and supports the valve 52 away from the seat5!. The upper end of the tube above the seat 5i i formed with a.multiplicity of small ports 6% the valve has scalloped edge portions GI,and the base plate 59 is parted centrally at 62 in communication with anoutlet opening 63 in the wall of the tank [5, although any other form ofduct connection may be formed between the tank and interior of thesleeve 55] above the seat 5!. The bottom of the cup 55 is suitablythickened to support the tube 5d effectively, the cup bottom being boredand tapped and the tube threaded and screwed thereinto. A conventionalcompression fitting E4 is engaged in the lower outer end of the tube,coupling a flexible fuel conduit E55 to the tube. This conduit isextended to one end of a filter T device 66 within the vehicle. The pipe65 is provided with an ample slack portion 6'! near the coupling Withthe tank i5, and inwardly of this slack portion the conduit ispreferably anchored at 68 to a structural part of the vehicle. The pipes65 from both tanks i5 are connected to the filter T at its upper partand the latter has a T outlet 69 below, from which feed pipes 'illextend to the filler necks ll of respective tanks l2, into which theyare let by appropriate coupling.

The cup 55 is provided with an eye 72, to which a chain '13 is linked,this chain being also anchored to the plate 39, as shown. This chain hasa small amount of slack therein, but less than the slack 6! in theflexible conduit. It should be sufficient to permit the tank E5 to rolla distance from initial position fitted in the recessed parts of thesaddle blocks and on the heel Iii and sloping surface of the ramp iii ashort distance before the chain becomes taut against the cup 55.

The saddle I6 has a pair of spring seats 74 therein, these seats beinlocated inwardly of a perpendicular from the axis of the tank and beinginclined so as to lie in a plane normal to a radius of said axismedially of the seats. A strong helical wire compression spring 15 isset and secured upon each seat, the spring constructed to extend beyondthe position of the adjacent wall of the tank [5 when the spring isunloaded, and constructed to exert suflicient reactive force whencompressed to equal the weight of the tank or a substantial partthereof.

Angle lugs Tl are secured to the surface of the tank l5, positioned andarranged to fit between the saddles l6 and prevent longitudinal slippageof the tank on the saddles.

As a protection for the drain fitting upper part when dropping fromplace on release, a shroud piece i8 is provided, secured to the tank [5around the outlet. This member consists of a thick cylindrical wall ofsuitable metal having an interior diameter much greater than that of thesleeve 50, and a length somewhat longer than the sleeve. It is setagainst the face of the tank in concentric relation to the sleeve 50 andwelded in place or otherwise secured.

In use, the apparatus being constructed as described, the supports forthe tanks i5 being in place on the vehicle, and the fuel connectionsinstalled as indicated, the air vents customarily formed in the caps 75of the filler necks ii are closed permanently in any suitable way, thepiping to the cup 55 and the cup thereafter serving to admit air to thepermanent tanks 2. The jettison tanks may be put in place empty andfilled while in place on the vehicle or may be filled beforehand. Ineither case the tank I5 is positioned with the outstanding flange 5 atthe lowermost part of the tank and alined with the recesses d3 as thetank is lowered to a position slightly outward of the heels i3. As soonas the tank rests on these heels with the flange 55 entered in therecesses, the tank is rolled inward on the heels 58 until it restssnugly in the recesses l i and against the rear parts or backstops 26,and the springs 75.

The turn buckle devices, which in the meantime have been swinging freefrom the back bar 22, are now adjusted with the anchor heads 26 betweenthe jaws 2829 and in the notches 3?", while the dogs 34 are moved tolocking or prop positions under the shoulders 33 of the jaws 29.

Next, each turn buckle yoke is rotated to draw hard downward on the backbar 22. This will cause a slight rotation of the tank !5 around its axisuntil the flange 45 engages snugly under the overhang $8, in case anyclearance occurred there in the initial placement of the receptacle, andwill also anchor the tank securely against rolling or upward movementfrom the saddles. This is the normal loaded position of the tank. Thepermanent fuel system of the vehicle may now be coupled to the auxiliarytanks by manual presentation of the cups 55 around the extremities ofthe lower stud parts 50 of the sleeves 56 and thrust there onto andagainst the elastic ring 5 until the poppets 56 enter the channels 5? inthe walls of the cups. This causes the tubes 56 to lift the valves 52and permit flow of fuel from the tanks 15 to the permanent tanks it asindicated. The latter will now become filled and will remain full whilethe coupling continues, until the fuel of the auxiliary tanks isexhausted. During this use of the auxiliary fuel supply the necessaryadmission of air will occur through the filler caps at 2!. Subsequent todepletion of fuel in the tank I5, if the coupling at 51 is continued,relief of vacuous condition in '7 the tanks 55 will be effected throughthe vents at 2!, the tanks 85, and the fuel conduits from the latter tothe tanks l2.

At any instant that it is necessary or determined to be desirable todispense with and jettison the tanks i5, an occupant of the vehicle maypress the button of one switch 42 and the tanks it, full or empty, willbe immediately and automatically jettisoned.

Upon closure of the switchthe circuit M is completed through thesolenoids 38 at each tank anchorage, drawing the links 39 so as to movethe dogs 34" from under the shoulders 33 or the movable grip jaws 29 andfreeing the latter for release movement from the anchor heads. 26. Theturn buckle assembly, by its tension, and under the urging of thesprings-l5 acting on the tanks E5, will force the heads 26 upwardly,wedging the jaws of the grip devices apart and freeing and clearing theheads 26 entirely. This leaves the tanks "is free to roll outwardon theheels i8 and ramps, and this movement of the tanks is efiected by thesprings 15.

By locating the heels 18 close under the axes of the tanks E5, theforces of the springs 15 become highly effective in moving the tanks sothat moderate force only is required, and very prompt jettison movementis effected when the release devices are operated. The jettisoned tankmay be recovered and used again as described.

After release of the jaws the forces of the springs 75 will besupplemented by lateral inertia forces incident to the frequent motionsof the vehicle, and also by gravity under lateral inclinations of thevehicle which will occur alternately in each direction on ordinary roadsor field terrain, and the rolling movement on the ramps is will becontinued by gravity as soon as the centers of ravity of tanks l5 passbeyond the apices of the heels iii.

In the rolling of the tanks i5 outward their motion will be acceleratedand the slack of the chains taken up at the same time that parts of theflexible conduits 65 are drawn outward.

About when the axis of the cup 55 and stud Eli are disposed on a linebetween the anchored end of the chain 13 and the axis of the tank t5 thechain will become taut and the inertia of the tank 1% and contents willcause the stud be to be drawn from the cup. This will permit the spring53 to seat the valve 52 preventing escape of any fuel remaining in thetank 15.

Thereafter air will be admitted to the permanent tanks 52 through thecups 555 the flexible conduit and piping to the necks.

I have disclosed the invention with particularity in the best form thusfar known to me, but it will be understood that this is purely exemplaryand that various changes in construction and arrangement of partssubstitution of materials and equivalents, mechanical or otherwise, maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forthin the appended claims, wherein I claim:

1. In a jettison tank and mount a base tank support including a saddlehaving an inner tank anchoring side and an outer discharge side, a tankthereon having its vertical diameter immediately adjacent said'outerdischarge side and tiltably movable thereover from a released butotherwise normal mounted position toward the discharge side, upper andlower retainer members comprising respectively a rigid projection on thetank and a fulcrum element on said saddle at the discharge side thereofconstructed, arranged and adapted to interlock at normal mountedposition of the tank to hold the outer part of the tank against upwardor outward movement translatively, and shaped so that the one will moveclear of the otherunder tilting motion of the tank, and a. releasableanchor device coengaged between the inner side of the tank and support.

2."The structure of claim 1, in which the tank is cylindrical at thepart over and outward of said retainer members, said support terminatingclosely adjacent a longitudinal element of the cylinder alined with theretainer member on the tank, whereby the tank may tilt on the lowerretainer member and roll thereover when the tank is released. l.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the tank is cylindrical at the partover and outward of said retainer members, said support terminatingclosely adjacent a longitudinal element of the cylinder alined with theretainer member on the tank, whereby the tank in tilting movement willpivot on the terminal part of the support, said retainer member on thesupport being an upwardly and inwardlly inclined member, said retainermember on the tank being .a rigid member fixed with the tank projectedtherefrom obliquely toward the discharge side of the support so as tounderlie the retainer member on the support so as to describe an areunder tilting of the tank whereby to move from an engaged position to acleared position relative to the retainer memher on the support.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said inner tank anchoring side ofsaid support engages the tank as a buttress at a high elevation on thetank and said anchor device is a tension member which includes a piecefixed to a high level part of the tank at its inner side, the anchordevice being coupled directly to the high inner side of the support.

5. In a jettison tank and mount, a base support including a memberhaving .a discharge side and an anchor side, a tank thereon tiltablymovable thereon from a normal mounted position toward the discharge sideof the mount, a rigid projecting member at the lower part of the tankextending longitudinally of the tank and inclined downwardly and towardthe discharge side of thebase support, a rigid projecting member on thesupport outwardly of the projecting memher on the tank, and overlyingthe latter in normal mounted position of the tank, said projectingmembers constituting interlocking retaining members for the tank atnormal mounted position ofthe latter and being so arranged that underinitial tilting movement of the tank movement of the one on the tankwill be inwardly divergent from the one on the support to move fromunder the latter, and a releasable tension device engaged between thesupport and tank at the anchor side.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said retainer members hasan inclined part arranged to be in lapping relation to the other, sothat one on the tank may engage under the other on th'e support when thetank is in normal loaded position, the inclined part on the supportbeing extended in the direction of relative rotating movement of theother with the tank when the tank moves tiltingly on the support.

'l...The structure of claim 1 in which one said retainer member is onthe tank and comprises a rigid tongue-like member fixed on the tankinclined downward and toward the discharge ide of the support across avertical line, .and the other of the retainer members is on the supportinwardly of the axis of tilting movement of the tank on the support andinclined upward and inwardly over the first named retainer member inlapping relation, the path of initial movement of the first namedretainer member under tilting movement of the tank on the support beingdivergent from the overlying parts of the second named retainer member.

8. In a vehicle of the character described, a support thereon having aninner buttress part and an outer discharge side stopping immediatelyadjacent a bound of the vehicle shaped and arranged as a terminalfulcrum part to support in a tiltable condition a receptacle when set inan unsecured but otherwise normal loaded position on said supportagainst said buttress .part, so that the receptacle may tilt by gravityover the support toward said discharge side and outward beyond saidbound, a separable fastener connected directly to a high inner part ofthe wall of the receptacle inwardly of the axis of tliting movement ofthe receptacle on the fulcrum part and to an anchor on the vehicleinward of the receptacle, means remotely controlled to release saidfastening at will, and a separable fastening including one membersecured to the wall of the receptacle immediately adjacent said fulcrumpart and a complementary member on the fulcrum part having interlockingrelation to said, one member at normal loaded position of thereceptacle, said one member on release of said fastening being movabletranslatively as a unit with the receptacle around said axis in adirection to unlock and diverge from said complementary member undertilting movement of the receptacle on said fulcrum part.

9. A jettison tank mounting and jettison device comprising a saddlesupport member having an outer discharge side and an inner anchor side,the upper side of said support member being shaped to fit the peripheryof a tank and providing an inner buttress adjacent said inner anchorside and a fulcrum element terminating at said outer discharge sideimmediately adjacent the vertical diameter of a tank supported by saidsupport member, a spring seat in said support member located inwardly ofsaid fulcrum element, a compression spring positioned on said springseat to bear against a tank supported by said support member in adirection tending to move the tank from the support member, said springmember having a high unloaded position within the space for such tank soas to be compressed by such tank when the latter is supported by saidsupport member, said spring being constructed to exert sufiicientreactive force when so compressed by such tank to tilt such tank fromsaid support member when such tank is free, and means releasable at willto secure a tank on said support member.

NEIL J. DE SANDERS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,166,134 Fitch July 18, 19391,914,673 Radford June 20, 1933 1,339,555 Earl May 11, 1920 2,307,427Smith et al. Jan. 5, 1943 1,322,160 Breguet Nov. 18, 1919 1,379,525Caudron May 24, 1921 2,354,438 Craig July 25, 1944 2,376,336 Brown May22, 1945

